Supporting reading and writing skills when health gets in the way takes creativity and flexibility. These suggested strategies meet your child where they are on good days, and hard ones.

Work with the Energy Your Child Has

Match the activity to the day. On low-energy days, 10 quiet minutes with an audiobook counts or using a dedicated phonics app/software. Listening while resting is a legitimate literacy activity. On better days, try writing or longer reading sessions. Both build skills.

Utilise software technology. Several software programs feature built-in Text-to-Speech (TTS), with Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and Microsoft Edge being the most popular free options. For advanced natural-sounding AI voices, dedicated apps (with a fee) like Speechify and NaturalReader are highly recommended.

Microsoft Word: Includes a "Read Aloud" function that highlights words as it reads. Simply open your document, go to the Review tab, and click Read Aloud to start.

Microsoft Edge Browser: Excellent for both PDFs and web articles. Open a PDF in Edge and click the Read Aloud button (or press Ctrl + Shift + U) in the top toolbar to listen.

These recommended software programs can be accessed by app or browser:

• Nessy Reading
• The Reading Doctor
• Spellcaster
• Literacy Planet
• Fitzroy Sounding Readers and Talking Readers software

On Better Days

• Get a physical book that is age appropriate and try reading 2-3 pages.
• Use the spelling words in the home program you are using to write sentences. Use The Look, Cover, Write, Check (often called Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check) method is a popular and highly effective spelling strategy used to memorise new or difficult words. It relies on active recall and repetition to help build long-term memory.
• Make up sentences with your target spelling words and practise writing sentences.
• Read aloud together. You read, they listen. It builds vocabulary, comprehension, and a love of stories without requiring physical stamina. Swap roles when they're up for it.

Remember to keep sessions short. Three focused 10-minute sessions beat one exhausting 30-minute push. Stop before your child hits a wall, ending on a positive note keeps motivation alive. Ideally aim for 10-15 minutes, 5 days a week.

Adapt the Format

• Use text to speech or audiobooks on days your child is too exhausted to read aloud.
• E-readers and tablets help. Adjustable font size, text-to-speech, and blue-light filters make reading accessible during flares, eye fatigue, or post-procedure recovery.
• Dictation instead of writing. Voice-to-text tools (built into iOS, Android, and most computers) let kids narrate stories, journal entries, or book responses when writing by hand is too hard. The Notes app on ipads and iphones allow you to dictate sentences. Use Google Storybooks to help generate narrative ideas using target spelling words. This digital tool isn’t perfect but gives your child an opportunity to improve the story structure on high energy days.

Build Literacy Into Rest Time

• Keep favourite books, magazines, ipad with literacy apps at the bedside. Easy access removes friction. Let your child choose the material. Interest drives engagement more than reading level.
• Hospital and appointment prep. Pack a dedicated "reading bag" with a current book, a small journal, worksheets and a pencil. Waiting rooms and infusions are surprisingly productive reading and writing time.
• Podcast and radio drama. Serialised audio fiction and nonfiction podcasts for kids (Wow in the World, Story Pirates, Circle Round) build listening comprehension and vocabulary passively. Schools are good at providing age appropriate podcasts and digital resources for accessing both fiction and nonfiction materials (e.g Behind The News).

Stay Connected to School

• Make sure your child has an Individual Learning or Education Plan and is connected with the special education team at school.
• Work with your child's teacher to identify the 2–3 most important literacy skills to preserve during a difficult stretch, rather than trying to keep up with everything.

"Progress during hard stretches looks different and that's okay."

Use Conversation as a Literacy Tool

Talk about books, stories, and ideas constantly. Ask "what do you think happens next?" or "why do you think that character did that?" Verbal discussion of text builds the same comprehension muscles as written response without any physical demand. Talk about words. For example, “I came across this word ‘hirsute’ when reading something today. Do you know what that means?”

Encourage your child to narrate their own experience: what happened at the appointment, how the procedure felt, what they're worried about. Recounting experiences teaches kids all aspects of literacy and human connection:

1) how to use words to relate an experience

2) how to label emotions/ feelings in response to an event

3) how to build relationships and emotional connection using words

4) practising memory skills in order to recount/ retell an event

5) using connecting words to link ideas for coherence, complex sentences to describe complex ideas, choosing the correct word to describe a nuanced situation. 

There is no pressure to write any of this down. Use speech to text to capture these stories. Narrative skill is a core literacy competency, and kids with chronic illness often have rich stories to tell.

Keep It Low-Pressure

Chronic illness already brings enough stress. Frame literacy activities as enjoyment and connection, not performance. Reading together, listening to a story, or dictating a few sentences to you all count. 

Helpful Resources

Look at Spelfabet’s resource page! My tip is to look for Australian based resources as they are likely to be aligned to our national curriculum. The resources I have specifically mentioned on this page are ones I use and can vouch for. 

Phonics Australia has decodable readers and accompanying worksheets to keep reading accuracy and fluency going if your child is struggling with grade level non-decodable readers. For Older students investigate Moon Dogs, Magic Belt, Alba, Totem, Talisman and Rescue series.

You are your child's most important literacy teacher. Showing up, even on the hard days, even in small ways is enough.